Press Release – Auckland Cricket
Howick Pakuranga all-rounder Donovan Grobbelaar has been named in the Aces 12 for their first HRV Cup home game of the season against the Canterbury Wizards tonight in the main stadium at Eden Park.

Grobbelaar has displayed outstanding form in club cricket, especially with the ball, having already picked up 33 wickets for the season.

Anaru Kitchen also returns after over a month out with a hand injury and Andre Adams is also set to play his first game since picking up a side strain in South Africa during the Champions League.

The Aces are aiming for an unheralded three-peat in the HRV Cup but Aces coach Paul Strang is not getting ahead of himself.

“We’ve got a lot of games in a short space of time in the next few weeks so it’s really important that we just focus on each game as it comes. We’ve also got a different balance in the side with Blackcaps absences so it’s about making sure we get everybody on the same page and execute what we’ve set out to do.”

It’s also the first time the team will have played out on the main ground at Eden Park for four years and Strang is hoping the big stage works for his team.

“Eden Park is a world class stadium and the opportunity to play on the number one is really exciting for the players, it’s something that we hope we can use to our advantage and hopefully have a good crowd to add to the atmosphere.”

The Aces take on the Canterbury Wizards on Eden Park main oval from 7pm tonight, gates are open from 5.30pm. Their next HRV Cup game is against the Northern Knights on Boxing Day, 4pm at Eden Park Outer Oval.

The 12 from which a team will be named for tonight’s game is as follows: